The Victorian Supreme Court recently found that private car park operators cannot levy 'parking fines' or prosecute motorists who stay overtime or do not display a ticket. Find out what the decision means for consumers.

Australian Consumer Law

The Australian Consumer Law commenced on 1 January 2011. This law made business easier, because your rights and responsibilities as a small business are the same, no matter where you operate in Australia.

Your business is also a consumer and protected by these same consumer guarantees, if it buys:

goods or services that cost up to $40,000

goods or services that cost more than $40,000 and are of a kind ordinarily acquired for domestic, household or personal use or consumption

a vehicle or trailer primarily used to transport goods on public roads.

However, the consumer guarantees will not apply if your business buys goods to resell or transform into a product to sell.

For example:

If your business buys a printer that costs up to $40,000 for use in the business, it can rely on the consumer guarantees if there is a problem. But if your business bought the printer to resell to consumers, it cannot rely on the consumer guarantees.

Guides to the Australian Consumer Law

For more information about rights and responsibilities under the Australian Consumer Law, view our Fair trading section.